the capsule landed back in the pacific. it was the first time anyone other than a government had successfully orbited a spacecraft and returned it to earth. >> we designed this to be super tough. you can beat the snot out of it and it will still work. >> next year musk hopes to begin carrying cargo to the international space station. eventually astronauts, a commercial company, replacing the space shuttle. >> confirmed. it is complete. >> but unless it's safe, nasa's administrator says no u.s. astronaut will be on board. >> i cannot allow them to put us in jeopardy by not focusing on crew safety and the like. that's my job. >> the stakes are high. there is no turning back. >> please welcome the future of space shuttle. >> with the shuttle retired and astronauts left to ride in russian space ships, nasa is counting on commercial companies to get it right, make it work. and the more who make it work, the more affordable it will become. >> that's the end of a particular era, and it's up to individuals like myself, if you're in